Yesterday, we began with music, presented a bulk of the acting categories, and spread the wealth. Today, the remaining nine categories for the 2017 Hollmann Awards - including Best Picture. Again, order was determined by random drawing. Click here for a full listing of the nominees in each category.
On with the show...
Best Cinematography
1. Blade Runner 2049
Roger Deakins
2. The Lost City of Z
Darius Khondji
3. Mudbound
Rachel Morrison
4. Atomic Blonde
Jonathan Sela
5. First They Killed My Father
Anthony Dod Mantle
After the jump: Original Song, Actress, Best Picture of the Year - and more!
The 75th Golden Globes are tonight! I have seen all but nine of the movies nominated - Jesus, when I see that number, it feels like a lot. Oh, well.
Anyway, in the 14 film categories: what will win, and what deserves to win? Let's go through it!
Best Motion Picture - Drama
Will win:The Shape of Water. You wouldn't think the human-monster love story would be the least divisive movie of any lineup, but 2017 was full of surprises.
Should win:The Post. Solid studio filmmaking, stellar cast, surprisingly fun.
WHO WON:Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri. Goddamn.
Should win: Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread. So petty! So hilarious!
WHO WON: Boy was I wrong! Oldman wins!
Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Will win: Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water. Even though Frances McDormand may be overdue for a win from the Globes (it's never happened!), the group's international makeup will probably benefit Hawkins, who also won their Musical/Comedy prize for Happy-Go-Lucky nine years ago.
Should win: Hawkins. Besides the rest of that mishegas above, she's also really fucking good in her movie. This and Maudie are great showcases for her superlative physicality.
Before I unveil my Top Ten of the Year, there's something I forgot to do in yesterday's ranking of my Top 25 - 11: honorable mentions. As I mentioned, there were a number of movies that almost made it, but I just couldn't find room for. A special salute (and apology) to those flicks:
The Battleship Island Ingrid Goes West
The Last Jedi
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Murder on the Orient Express
Oklahoma City
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women
Split
A United Kingdom
And now, my Top Ten of 2017, presented in alphabetical order...after the jump...
P.T. Barnum happily bore the title Prince of Humbugs, insisting there was nothing wrong with hyperbole to sell tickets, as long as you delivered on a satisfying show and brought joy to the people. The Greatest Showman is a valentine to that spirit, if not the actual facts (if we are to go by Barnum's ageless children, his entire showbiz career spanned about six to eight months): it razzles, it dazzles, it feels a lot about The Stage as a place where, to paraphrase one character, the full tapestry of humanity is on display. The choreography is executed by actual dancers, with a constantly roving camera capturing their every move from head to toe! Michelle Williams, allowed to smile on screen for the first time since Oz the Great and Powerful, impresses with a winsome singing voice and a warm openness - would that she could get more roles like this!
In truth, it reminded me a lot of my favorite movie, Xanadu: for every "Guys like me shouldn't dream, anyway" moment of on-the-nose clunkiness (and oh boy, there's a-plenty!), there are three musical appeals for beauty and spectacle that remind you just why we go to the movies in the first place. Also like Xanadu, it ends with all the money thrown up on the screen in a busy yet shockingly moving finale. It wears its heart on its sleeve and naively expects everyone else to, too. I loved loved loved it.
It doesn't really feel like Awards Season until the Golden Globes make their announcement, you know? Sure, sure: National Board of Review and critics' groups are important and great time capsules for the year, but they just have winners; the Globes have nominees, suspense, anticipation! And oh, always a surprise...
I concern myself only with the film categories, beginning after the jump....
Every year at The Film Experience, Nathaniel Rogers predicts the Oscar contenders a year in advance - he calls them his April Foolish Predictions, and they are always exciting, thought-provoking, and fun. While I missed last year, I usually try to play along with Nathaniel, and the rest of the Oscar blogosphere, with some early bird predictions of my own. Mine may not be as thorough as Nathaniel's (he even predicts foreign film!), but I'd be disappointed if I didn't join in the fun!
The contenders for next year's Oscars may be....
Best Picture
Anywhere between five and ten films can be nominated in this category. If five there be:
Dunkirk
The Greatest Showman
The Post
Untouchable
Wonderstruck
Keeping in mind that Untouchable is currently slated for a 2018 release date - but since they've already been filming for some time, I wouldn't be surprised if they moved it to November/December. Remember when Crazy Heart was a Spring 2010 release, then suddenly became a late 2009 contender, and eventually, winner?
